Houston we have a problem ( water leak)

[Rockettvr]

Finally got my A**e in gear an finished up the winter work on my 350 ready for mot.as part of my checks I noticed the water level had dropped (needed about 1/2 pint ) Got battery fully charged , spun engine up with ignition disconnected to get oil running round and pressure up and started her up. Saw that I've got a small but constant water leak at the top of the engine. Water is running down the v of the valley gasket then down the bell housing and onto the ground. Water doesn't appear to be leaking at the front of the engine around the water pump or thermostat housing or at the rear where the heater pipes attach but somewhere in between under the inlet manifold. As far as I can see the only place it could come from is the metal tubes that run from the pump at the front to the flexible hoses at the rear that supply the heater. Before I go tearing the top of the engine off any ideas chaps ?
If it's what I think it is, what's involved in getting it all apart.?I'm pretty handy with the spanners but not to familiar with the rover v8.
Cheers Fellas
Ron

[ferlin]

there are some steel water pipes that run inside that valley where you are talking about and they are probably rotten and leaking. Or the rubber pipes may be leaking where they clamp onto the steel. Definitely worth looking at them before panicking about more serious issues. I think Rimmer bros sell them.

[Wedg1e]

Yep, the steel pipes are prone to corroding through. When mine went it was just next to the swaged rib that retains the rubber hose to the heater, so I just chopped the pipe shorter and reattached the hose with a couple of Jubilee clips. It's still there... but the damn thing leaks from the thermostat housing gasket instead now

[Jack Valiant]

Ron this is an old RV8 chestnut, the pipes are out of view and forgotten for 20 + years. Pull the plenum / inlet manifold off and confirm the diagnosis. 2 options, replace or cut and bypass with rubber or silicone hoses with stainless clips if there is enough pipe left un corroded. Although no help this is why the Serp engine brings the pipes down the side of the motor!

Chris

[V8 Fettler]

I haven't seen this problem. Do the pipes corrode through from the inside or the outside?

[Wedg1e]

V8 Fettler said:

I haven't seen this problem. Do the pipes corrode through from the inside or the outside?

The inside on mine, pretty obviously. There was lots of orange smeg in there.

[Rockettvr]

Thanks all
It's what I thought , but nice to have it confirmed - have had a look on rimmers and it appears the heater feed pipe is no longer available - so here's hoping it's not that.
Cheers to all
Ron

[hallsie]

heres a few photos of mine as its off at the moment.

Soon te be removed and cleaned or replaced.

Stu

[The Hatter]

Common problem Ron, as Mr Valiant said. I chopped the ends off mine as Wedg1e said, that lasted a while but now I have replaced the lot with black silicon/rubber hose and a tee-piece for the heater bypass connection. Just make sure the silicon/rubber hoses can't chaffe agianst anything - I sleeved mine with larger hoses where this could happen (near the bellhousing).

You have to take the intake manifold off for this; not too problematic but you'll need to clean all the mating faces on the plenum and get a new manifold gasket (composite ones are best). SD1/RangeRover haynes is a reasonable guide if you haven't done it before.

[wooly350i]

Reckon is possible to do those pipes in copper as well.